Tuesday trots were at Terang on August 18 and local hotelier Darren Cole who trains a large team at “Exciteusinthecity” Lodge across the road from the track, took the honours for the night with a double – The Jet Player in the Timboon Motors Colorado 2-Y-0 Pace over 1680 metres and Ok To Fly in the ABS Australia Pace for C2 & C3 class over 2180 metres, both driven by Melton freelance reinsman John Caldow.
Jeremes Jet/Slip Slop Slap colt The Jet Player raced by Darren, has had a boom on him since first gracing the track back in December and although disappointing on a few occasions, usually finished close up in his races.
Starting solo on the second row, The Jet Player followed through at the start to settle one/one with polemarker Dark Aly leading, before being shuffled back a spot racing for the bell when Kerryn Manning set the hot favourite Betanotblink forward from three back to park in the open.
Moving three wide in the final circuit, The Jet Player despite racing roughly on the final bend, was able to blouse Betanotblink in the last stride by a head in a mile rate of 1-58.7, with first starter Big Boy Bobby 12.6 metres away in third place after trailing the weakening leader.
Much travelled seven year old Sands A Flyin/Ok Ans gelding Ok To Fly making his 82nd race appearance, brought up two wins in succession in a thrilling finish with four horses crossing the line almost in unison.
Given a sweet trip one/one from gate three after facing the breeze outside Saab Magic (gate two) before the heavily backed Mighty Mav went forward to park in the open mid-race, Ok To Fly appeared to be under extreme pressure to stay in touch approaching the home turn, however when eased three wide on turning, rallied in the shadows of the post to score by a half head from Saab Magic, Mighty Mav and Ima Little Tycoon along the sprint lane from last, with the placegetters being separated by half heads only. Major Cruiser which trailed the leader finished only 1.8 metres away after having every chance along the sprint lane. The mile rate 1-59.5.
Terang’s Marg Lee and nephew Glen Craven combined to land the Timboon Motors Commodore 3-Y-0 Pace over 1680 metres with Grinfromeartoear/My Bagatelle Lombo filly Miles Of Smiles in 1-59.3.
Having her second run for the stable, Miles Of Smiles from the pole was given no peace by Shadow Of Fortune next door for the majority of the journey, fighting on gallantly to register a neck victory over Heart Of Courage along the sprint lane after trailing and Whata Redwood (one/two – three wide last lap).
On what was a good night for the district, Camperdown trainer Bruce McDowall snared the Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory Pace for C1 class over 1680 metres with 4-Y-0 Grinfromeartoear/Saxony Style gelding Saxon Warrior and in doing so, also brought up two wins in a row after a Horsham victory a week earlier.
Driven by the state’s leading reinsman Greg Sugars, Saxon Warrior was sent forward from outside the front line to shadow the pacemaker Under Your Thumb (gate four).
Applying plenty of pressure approaching the final bend, Saxon Warrior was too strong over the concluding stages, drawing away to score by 10 metres in advance of Under Your Thumb and Wereonsong (one/two – three wide last lap) in 1-58.2.
Maryborough trainer/driver Ash Matthews was victorious aboard cleverly named ultra consistent Armbro Variable/Wringing Wet 4-Y-0 gelding Soaked in the My Noorat Freighters Trotters Mobile for T0 & T1 class over 2180 metres in 2-03.9.
Given an easy time at the head of affairs from the pole, Soaked always had the race in his keeping, hitting the wire 7.6 metres ahead of Somebuddylikeyou (gate six) which raced in the open, with Columbias Deejay (one/one) from gate two a head away in third place.
Astute Lara trainer Dean Braun combined with champion reinsman Chris Alford to capture the Terang Co-Op Pace for C1 class over 1680 metres with former Kiwi four year old gelding Watch This Spot, a prohibitive $1.20 favourite.
Taking over from Gnotuk inside him shortly after the start, Watch This Spot (Elsu/Prima Bella) from gate four toyed with his rivals, winning by 2.9 metres in a rate of 1-57.2 from Gnotuk which tried to make a race of it on straightening after easing to the outside. Sassy Man was 17.9 metres away in third place after following the pair.
Surprisingly it was Alford’s only drive for the night.
Portarlington trainer Gary Bailey a great supporter of Terang over the years, landed the Virbac Pace for C0 class over 2180 metres with 4-Y-0 Chief Marty/No Nickers gelding Spot On Chief in a rate of 2-02.
Driven by Ararat’s Michael Bellman who handles most of the Bailey team, Spot On Chief after starting from inside the second line, settled three back along the markers, with David Murphy’s Roxburgh Way leading from gate three.
Extricated into the clear approaching the home turn, Spot On Chief finished best out wide to nail Roxburgh Way by a neck in 2-02. Sentimental Hope finished third for Terang duo Laurie and Kieran O’Keeffe after following the winner all of the way.
